Ruth 1:16

Where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.

Naomi fully expected Ruth to return to her homeland where idol worship was accepted and expected. Yet Ruth had come to believe in Jehovah, the God Naomi worshiped. Through Naomi’s quiet faith, this outsider had come to faith in the one, true God. She didn’t want to go back to her old way of life-she had found something far better! Ruth represents the sincere seeker in every nation whose heart yearns for truth and reconciliation with the Living God.

Pray that God will raise up many “Ruths” from among the Muslims of Nigeria who will find something far better than folk Islam. Pray that these Muslim Nigerians will find spiritual satisfaction in the Savior.

Afawa Pa’a People

by CL

“No clouds,” Olajuwan said, scowling at the horizon. “If we don’t have rain soon, we will have no harvest.” “Should we assemble the elders?” young Bako asked. Olajuwan nodded.

While Bako ran down the hill into the village, Olajuwan wondered why this was necessary. Didn’t the gods know they needed rain for their crops? Why did the elders have to pour chicken blood into the sacred forest? Why did the women have to beat drums outside of the village? Though he had participated in countless rainmaking ceremonies, he had never stopped to consider what they meant. It suddenly struck him that having to beg for rain in this way meant that the gods were uncaring. These gods would allow the Afawa people to starve.

The Afawa have never encountered a God of love, only the harsh gods of traditional religion. Nineteen percent of them adhere to Islam. They live in fear of ancestors and spirits. Sandwiched between two Islamic people groups, they are much more likely to turn to Islam than to faith in Christ. There are not many Christian resources available in the Pa’a language. The Joshua Project reports that the Afawas have no Old or New Testament in their language.

Pray for the Lord to raise up laborers who will go to the Afawa Pa’a people and communicate the gospel in a way that is clear and culturally powerful. Pray for mission agencies to see the need of this people and begin translation work so that they will have the Bible in their heart language.